Civic Engagement Awards

The American Democracy Project recognizes and rewards leadership in civic engagement on AASCU member campuses via four annual awards. Three of these awards—the Barbara Burch Award, the William M. Plater Award and the John Saltmarsh Award—are given to individuals who are working to advance civic learning and engagement on AASCU campuses. The fourth award, the Civic Learning and Community Engagement Award, is a campus-level honor that is part of AASCU's Excellence and Innovation Awards program.

American Democracy Project Awards

Nomination materials for the American Democracy Project awards are due annually to
adp@aascu.org by the end of March.

Barbara Burch Award: The Barbara Burch Award for Faculty Leadership in Civic Engagement is given in recognition of exemplary faculty leadership in advancing the civic learning and engagement of undergraduate students and advancing the work of AASCU’s American Democracy Project on campus and/or nationally.

William M. Plater Award: The William M. Plater Award for Leadership in Civic Engagement is given in recognition of exemplary leadership of AASCU chief academic officers or provosts in advancing the civic learning of undergraduates through programs and activities that encourage greater knowledge, skills, experiences and reflection about the role of citizens in a democracy.

John Saltmarsh Award: The John Saltmarsh Award for Emerging Leaders in Civic Engagement is given in recognition of exemplary early-career leaders who are advancing the wider civic engagement movement through higher education to build a broader public culture of democracy.

Excellence and Innovation Awards

Starting in 2017, as part of its Excellence and Innovation Awards program, AASCU will recognize two campuses annually with the Civic Learning and Community Engagement Award. The application deadline for this year's Civic Learning and Community Engagement Award was April 21, 2017.

Civic Learning and Community Engagement Award: The Civic Learning and Community Engagement Award honors institutions that demonstrate a strategic commitment to prioritizing, institutionalizing and advancing student civic learning and community engagement in regional, state and/or national communities. This award recognizes colleges/universities that are working to develop campus cultures that recognize and reward engagement that (1) fosters student learning and civic skill building; (2) rewards faculty teaching and scholarship for civic purposes and with engaging pedagogies and practices; and (3) partners meaningfully with community members and organizations to solve pressing problems and build more just and equitable communities.